University of Manchester - Online and Blended Learning

MSc Real Estate

Whether you’re currently working in real estate or have an ambition to move into the industry, through the MSc, you’ll learn the latest in-demand skills and knowledge required for a successful career in this dynamic sector. The MSc is also a stepping stone for those considering professional accreditation and RICS membership.

This online course has been designed to support working professionals who would like to study part-time. The flexibility of this course allows you to study alongside your other commitments and gain a University of Manchester qualification from anywhere in the world. You may be already working within the Real Estate industry, or have a strong passion for the subject area. This course is ideal for anyone who wants to build professional knowledge in the Real Estate arena. With RICS accreditation you can be confident that this course has the benchmark of quality and will be recognised by employers internationally.

• To provide students with a framework of knowledge, understanding and skills to enable graduates to take a leading role in addressing the challenges facing the real estate industry.
• To develop students' capacity for critical thinking and ability to present sound, well-justified arguments and solutions to complex problems, recognising the interconnected nature of real estate practice.
• To draw on the world-class research and practical experience of the School of Environment, Education and Development, together with our excellent links with business and the public sector, to enable students to explore new insights into the areas of sustainable development and strategic management of the built environment.
• To facilitate student learning by providing an intellectually challenging and stimulating learning environment, involving both independent and collaborative project work.
• To be highly relevant to future employment in the real estate industry, with a strong focus on developing commercial awareness and producing graduates who have a wider understanding of their responsibilities as global citizens.
• As an RICS-accredited degree, to enable graduates to embark on the Assessment of Professional Competence which leads, after successful completion of a two-year period of practical experience, to membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Unit 1 - Real Estate Markets

• Understand the fundamentals of real estate
• Explore geographical and sector markets
• Study how macroeconomics shapes property cycles

Unit 2 - Property Valuation

• Introduce principal methods of property valuation
• Explore the mathematical application of different methods of valuation
• Critically examine the physical, legal and economic factors

Unit 3 - Planning for Future Cities

• Explore the principles, nature and practice of planning systems and processes around the world
• Understand emerging future trends in global urban development
• Examine the notion of the future ‘smart’ city in a global context

Unit 4 - Land and Development

• Understand land-use policies and make the best use of land resources
• Gain practical experience and understanding of the development process through real-life development sites
• Get to grips with the financial issues and risks involved in development schemes

Unit 5 - Real Estate Investment and Finance

• Explore the principles of investment and the creation of value
• Critically evaluate direct and indirect methods of investing in real estate
• Demonstrate approaches used in financing funds and individual projects

Unit 6 - Strategic Asset Management

• Introduce the principles of strategic asset management
• Explore the tactics used to proactively manage real estate assets
• Delve into topics including metrics, risk management sustainability and responsible property investment

Project-Based Enquiry

• Plan, manage and conduct practice-based research on a topic related to the course
• Build knowledge and competency in an appropriate range of research methods including the development of a focal question or hypothesis
• Develop and manage a specific research project through to final submission

Elective Unit 1 - Real Estate Law in Practice

• Learn about the nature of law and the law of contract
• Understand how leases and other contracts are created, operated and terminated, including service of notice
• Study property law, land tenure, third-party rights and conflict avoidance

Elective Unit 2 - Real Estate Modelling

• Understand how to use relevant analytical and quantitative tools
• Get a good grounding in statistics and modern econometric techniques
• Become proficient in running multivariate techniques using SPSS

Elective Unit 3 - Corporate Real Estate Project

• Consider how organisations develop and implement strategic objectives
• Apply relevant concepts and techniques to solve problems in a project environment
• Facilitate a detailed exploration of the development of business-focused real estate strategies

• Build a framework of knowledge, understanding and skills so you can drive change to address industry challenges.
• Gain an understanding of professional norms, standards, and values in real estate practice and how these operate within the context of international political, legal, institutional, and organisational frameworks.
• Explore new insights into the areas of sustainable development and strategic management of the built environment
• Draw on the world-class research and practical experience of the School of Environment, Education and Development.
• Develop a solid grounding in real estate from the perspectives of investors, developers, occupiers and broader society.

• Lead with confidence and make a real difference in your workplace.
• Use your knowledge and expertise in real estate to create change and address challenges facing the industry.
• Take on higher-level roles in areas including environmental management and consultancy, urban planning and design, real estate development, urban and regional development policy, central and local government, international development and energy and water.

Delivery - Online Course

Duration - 24 months, part-time.

Enrolment - September 2025

Workload - Approximately 20 hours per week

Teaching and learning

You will be provided with a comprehensive set of course materials at the beginning of each course unit. These interactive, specially designed materials provide an introduction to the issues and skills central to each unit and direct you to other study components such as further reading.

Each unit is supported by a virtual learning environment where you can access all course materials, online reading lists, podcasts, and the University's extensive online library. You are encouraged to use the virtual learning environment to discuss issues raised in the course materials with your course tutor and fellow students. Tutors are also available to provide one-to-one support by telephone, zoom and email.

The academic teaching start date for 2025 is 1st September 2025.